Sunday, November 2, 2014

The Millenial Minimalist Lifestyle?

"Millennials have turned against both cars and houses in dramatic and historic fashion. Just as car sales have plummeted among their age cohort, the share of young people getting their first mortgage between 2009 and 2011 is half what it was just 10 years ago, according to a Federal Reserve study."

What the above is trying to say, translated by me in very plain English, you're being a bad citizen/consumer if you don't buy the big stuff. That's all you're really good for, since the economy is driven by money constantly circulating between hands, clean and dirty hands, whether its responsible spending or irresponsible (through debt).

I'll explain why being minimalist actually gives you some security, since its been drilled in our heads that more stuff equals more security.

First, Minimalism

Well, minimalism can be defined by less clutter, less stuff to occupy your time with and to work for. Really, less stuff to worry about. Sparseness and simplicity are other good synonyms for it too.

Basically, buying stuff you're going to use.

Not bitching about the stuff being too expensive and having to work extra hours of work for it. It's your money (and stuff) or your life, choose one.

It does have an economic aspect to it, but this is important to its success.A factor that indicates a healthy economy is purchasing 'big-ticket' items, like cars and houses, because it leads to the purchase of other consumer goods and little consumer children in young and growing families.Because there is still a lot of people struggling to buy those cars and houses, some have chosen to forgo these purchases for other alternatives that don't include running around constantly trying to catch up with all the debt you take on to eventually own the things you work for on a daily basis, sometimes without breaks. Having many things to pay for brings insecurity and worry in peoples' lives.Technology has brought us so many alternative ways to live our lives, lives more fitting to our personalities.Anyway, because there are a shortage of jobs that expediently provide for the house and the car, people take out debt to purchase houses and cars and the other consumer goods that follow. Millennials are already in enough debt because of college, why would they tack on more?Which leads to another question, why is our entire economy based on consumption? If you're trying to be responsible one day and not purchase anything, you've made your community businesses suffer, and the 'blame' is somehow on you.